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Big Problem with RAM upgrade

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  • 02-02-2009 8:39pm
    #1
    Noviceman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 176 ✭✭


    Hi,

    I was helping a friend out upgrading his RAM on a Dell Dimension 8100, i ordered the correct RAM using crucial. When I replaced the RAM and powered up, it didn't work , it tried to start, but only got so far and nothing appeared on the monitor. I then put back in the old RAM thinkin the PC couldn't handle it and wanted to check some settings, and the same thing happened and is still happening. I am really worried now that there is some serious unrepairable damage done. The memory slots were underneath power supply and hard to get to, so there was lots of rumagging about, but I didn't touch mother board...

    any ideas\suggestions much appreciated...


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    #2
    Outkast_IRE
    Registered Users Posts: 7,516 ✭✭✭Outkast_IRE


    did you try resting the cmos and try the ram i stick at a time ?


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    #3
    Noviceman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 176 ✭✭Noviceman


    No, I haven't - so to reset cmos, i just take battery out for a while, correct? why would I then put the RAM back in one at at a time, i thought they worked as pairs


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    #4
    Triangle
    Registered Users Posts: 960 ✭✭✭Triangle


    silly thing but just to make sure.
    1) unplug it from mains
    then
    2) Remove battery

    Seems like an obvious thing but a few people don't think about the mains.....


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    #5
    Noviceman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 176 ✭✭Noviceman


    ok, so I reset the Cmos and put in the old RAM one by one, after powering up with one stick, it beeped several times, about 10 and then nothing, with the two sticks in, it did the same as before, just tried to start and a little click, but just doesn't, no fans going atall


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    #6
    Outkast_IRE
    Registered Users Posts: 7,516 ✭✭✭Outkast_IRE


    Those beeps are motherboard language the amount of beeps you get refers to a problem , google it and you should find it out . Do you have any other ram you can try in it?


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    #7
    Noviceman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 176 ✭✭Noviceman


    I finally got this working after alot of messing (tinkering). Computers are such a volatile thing, there's never a straightforward solution. I reset the cmos several times, trying the RAM I had plus different RAM in different slots, no joy, then unplugged hard drives and cd drives, and ram in original position and booted up, it worked, reconnected everything and it worked normally, then tried new RAM and it worked. Stoppped working after a while - did same thing again and it worked, stopped working again later - sounds like a dodgy PC, it's old, but for anyone with similar problems, just keep trying different things, i had given up hope of it ever working and suddenly it did --- i'll never figure out this PC business, logic is thrown out the window alot.....


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    #8
    Slutmonkey57b
    Registered Users Posts: 5,560 ✭✭✭Slutmonkey57b


    On the contrary, whatever is happening will be entirely logical, you just need the tools to find out. As someone said above, write down the beeps the motherboard is giving out and google it. Look up dell's support site. Did you ground yourself by touching a radiator or something before fiddling with the ram? Did you try RMA'in the RAM to crucial?


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